Inhaler

ABSTRACT

An inhaler for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a plurality of blister pockets is proposed. The inhaler comprises a mouthpiece cover pivotable to move the blister strip onward.

The present invention relates to an inhaler according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention relates to an inhaler for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a plurality of blister pockets (also called blisters) containing the inhalation formulation in doses.

GB 2 407 042 A discloses an inhaler with a rolled-up blister strip. The inhaler comprises a manually operated, pivotable actuator which operates a conveyor for stepwise moving the blister strip. The actuator supports a piercer and an associated mouthpiece. By pivoting the actuator, the blister strip can be moved forward and blister pockets of the blister strip can be pierced one after the other. When a patient breathes in an air stream passes through the previously pierced blister pocket, with the result that the inhalation formulation in the blister pocket mixes with the air and is discharged to the patient. Before use, a mouthpiece cover of the inhaler has to be opened. The mouthpiece cover can be pivoted around an axis that extends in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis of the actuator.

Object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler with simple and/or compact construction and/or with optimized design, handling and/or functionality.

The above object is achieved by an inhaler according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are subject of the subclaims.

A pivotable mouthpiece cover is coupled with a conveyor to move a blister strip when the mouthpiece cover is operated. This allows a very simple construction and optimized handling.

According to another aspect of the present invention, which can be realized independently, the axis of the moveable mouthpiece cover extends coaxial with or is identical to the axis of the actuator and/or conveying wheel of the inhaler. This allows a very simple construction and optimized handling.

Further aspects, features, properties and advantages of the present invention are described in the claims and the subsequent description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawing. There are shown in:

FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of an inhaler without mouthpiece cover;

FIG. 2 a schematic sectional representation of the inhaler with closed mouthpiece cover;

FIG. 3 a schematic view of the inhaler with opened mouthpiece cover;

FIG. 4 a side view of the mouthpiece cover;

FIG. 5 another side view of the mouthpiece cover;

FIG. 6 a side view of an actuator of the inhaler;

FIG. 7 a partial enlargement of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 another perspective view of the actuator;

FIG. 9 a perspective view of one half of a housing of the inhaler;

FIG. 10 a partial enlargement of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 a perspective view of a first lock element of the inhaler;

FIG. 12 a side view of the first lock element;

FIG. 13 a perspective view of a second lock element of the inhaler;

FIG. 14 a side view of the second lock element;

FIG. 15 a horizontal sectional view of the inhaler;

FIG. 16 a partial vertical sectional view of the inhaler;

FIG. 17 a perspective view of an axle of the inhaler;

FIG. 18 a perspective view of a coupling element;

FIG. 19 a perspective view of a conveying wheel of the inhaler; and

FIG. 20 a schematic view of a freewheel of the inhaler.

In the Figures, the same reference numbers are used for identical or similar parts, even if a repeated description is omitted. In particular identical or corresponding advantages and properties then also result or may be achieved.

FIG. 1 shows in a schematic sectional representation an inhaler 1. Preferably, the inhaler 1 is portable, works only mechanically and/or is hand-held.

The inhaler 1 serves to deliver a powdered inhalation formulation from a band-shaped blister strip 2. The blister strip 2 is finite, not forming an endless or closed loop. It has a large number of blister pockets 3 respectively containing directly a dose of the loose inhalation formulation. Thus, the formulation is pre-metered.

The inhaler 1 has a reservoir 4 for the still unused blister strip 2 with closed (sealed) blister pockets 3. The blister strip 3 is rolled up or wound up in the reservoir 4. In the representation example the reservoir 4 is formed such that the blister strip 2 can be moved outwards or pulled out of the reservoir 4 as easily as possible.

In the present embodiment, the blister strip 2 is directly received in the reservoir 4. However, instead of this a cassette, a container, a drum or suchlike can also be fitted or inserted with the blister strip 2 into the inhaler 1 or the reservoir 4.

The inhaler 1 has a conveyor 5 for stepwise onward movement of the blister strip 2 in direction of arrow 5 a by one blister pocket 3 in each case, in order to feed the blister pockets 3 successively to an opening and/or removal position 6 where the respective blister pocket 3 is opened and can be emptied.

The blister pockets 3 can be opened respectively preferably by means of a piercing member 7 which punctures or cuts open a lid 3 a of the respectively aligned blister pocket 3 in position 6. The piercing member 7 fluidically connects the blister pocket 3 with an adjacent mouthpiece 8 of the inhaler 1.

During or for inhalation a patient or user, not represented, places the mouthpiece 8 in his mouth and breathes in. The respectively opened blister pocket 3, into which the piercing member 7 extends, is thereby emptied by sucking in. An air stream 9 of ambient air is sucked in and passed through the opened blister pocket 3 such that the loose powder 10 (forming the inhalation formulation and being schematically shown in FIG. 1 only in the actually opened blister pocket 3 below mouthpiece 8) is dispensed with the sucked-in ambient air as an aerosol cloud 11 via the mouthpiece 8. This situation is schematically represented in FIG. 1.

The inhaler 1 has a preferably manually actuatable, lever-like actuator 12 being pivotally mounted to a housing 12 a of the inhaler 1. The piercing member 7 and the mouthpiece 8 are attached to and supported by the actuator 12.

The actuator 12 is pivotally supported by the housing 12 a, namely directly by at least one respective sliding bearing or indirectly by other components as appropriate.

The actuator 12 is operable (pivotable) to cause the piercing member 7 to puncture the lid 3 a of the respectively aligned blister pocket 3 in position 6 below the mouthpiece 8.

When the actuator 12 swivels from the position shown in FIG. 1 (here anti-clockwise) to its (partially) opened position shown in FIG. 3, the piercing member 7 is withdrawn from the last-pierced blister pocket 3.

Then, the blister strip 2 is moved forward by one blister pocket 3, so that the next blister pocket 3 is moved in position 6. This will be explained in more detail later.

When the actuator 12 swivels back into the position shown in FIG. 1, i.e. is manually moved back, the next aligned blister pocket 3 of the blister strip 2 is punctured by the piercing member 7 and thereby opened. Then, the inhaler 1 is activated and the next inhalation can take place.

The inhaler 1 has a receiving space or apparatus 13 to receive or store the used part of the blister strip 2. The receiving space or apparatus 13 is formed such that the used part can be wound up. FIG. 1 shows a situation with essentially filled reservoir 4 and still essentially empty receiving space 13.

The conveyor 5 comprises a conveying wheel 14, which can engage between the blister pockets 3 and thus convey the blister strip 2 in form-locking or form-fit manner. This allows very secure or precise moving or indexing of the blister strip 2 as desired and/or necessary.

The conveyor 5 or its conveying wheel 14 is arranged between the reservoir 4 and the receiving apparatus 13, in particular between the removal position 6 and the receiving apparatus 13, thus after the emptying of the blister pockets 3.

The pivot axis of the actuator 12 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the conveying wheel 14. In particular, the actuator 12 may be supported by an axle of the conveying wheel 14 and/or by the housing 12 a.

The inhaler 1 comprises a mouthpiece cover 15. The mouthpiece cover 15 is not shown in FIG. 1 which explains only the basic principle of the inhaler 1, but in FIG. 2 which shows a more realistic, but still schematic sectional view of the inhaler 1. FIG. 2 shows the inhaler 1 with closed mouthpiece cover 15, wherein the blister strip 2 has been partly omitted for illustration purposes. FIG. 3 shows the inhaler 1 with completely opened mouthpiece cover 15.

The mouthpiece cover 15 is pivotable around a cover axis 16 which is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and extends perpendicular to the drawing plane in the present representation.

Preferably, the mouthpiece cover 15 covers axially an axle or the axis of the actuator 12 and/or conveying wheel 14.

The pivot axis of the actuator 12 extends coaxial to or with the cover axis 16. The rotation axis of the conveying wheel 14 extends coaxial to the cover axis 16 and to the pivot axis of the actuator 12.

The conveyor 5 or its conveying wheel 14 is driven by the mouthpiece cover 15, namely by the pivotal movement of the mouthpiece cover 15. In particular, the blister strip 2 is moved forward, when the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened. Preferably, only part of the opening movement of the mouthpiece cover 15 actuates or operates the conveyor 5 or its conveying wheel 14 to move the blister strip 2 forward. In particular, the mouthpiece cover 15 is coupled with the conveyor 5 such that indexing occurs only during partial movement of the mouthpiece cover 15 in one direction, here in opening direction.

When the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened starting with the completely closed position shown in FIG. 2, in a first phase of the opening movement, for example up to a first angle of about 10, 20, 30 or 40 degrees, in particular about 35 degrees, the blister strip 2 is not moved due to a respective freewheel (explained later) between the mouthpiece cover 15 and the conveying wheel 14.

First of all, the actuator 12 has to be moved or opened in order to withdraw the piercing member 7 from the previously pierced and usually/already emptied blister pocket 3. This opening movement of the actuator 12 can be performed manually. However, the actuator 12 preferably opens automatically or together with the mouthpiece cover 15 when opening the mouthpiece cover 15.

In particular, the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened up to the first angle. When the mouthpiece cover 15 reaches this angle or reaches or exceeds the opened position of the actuator 12, the actuator 12 can flip automatically open into its opened position shown in FIG. 2, in particular due to a biasing or spring means (not shown) or the like. However, it also possible and preferred in the present embodiment that the actuator 12 moves jointly with the mouthpiece cover 15 in the first phase of the opening movement (e.g. due to a ratchet mechanism, a spring, a driving or coupling means which is explained later, or the like) until the actuator 12 reaches its opened position (preferably at on opening angle of about 5 to 15 degrees, here about 10 degrees) or the first angle.

The opened position of the actuator 12 is preferably set such that the piercing member 7 is not exposed to the exterior and/or that the inhaler 1 is not completely opened in order to avoid or at least minimize any potential external influences and/or to optimize the handling.

In order to limit the open position of the actuator 12, the opening or pivot range of the actuator 12 is smaller than the one of the mouthpiece cover 15, in particular smaller than the first, and/or is restricted to the opening angle, preferably at most 20 degrees, in particular to about 10 degrees or less.

However, it is also possible that the actuator 12 is not limited in its opening position, but can open or pivot as far as the mouthpiece cover 15, in particular jointly with the mouthpiece cover 15.

During the further opening (second phase) of the mouthpiece cover 15, the conveyor 5 or its conveying wheel 14 is actuated to move or index the blister strip 2 by one blister pocket 3 onward to the next blister pocket 3 that shall be emptied. In particular, the mouthpiece cover 15 is pivoted during the second phase or indexing independently from the actuator 12. The blister movement happens preferably up to the complete opening of the mouthpiece cover 15 shown in FIG. 3.

Preferably, only when the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened completely, i.e. reaches its end position and the actuator 12 is then closed, the movement of the blister strip 2 is set or fixed by a respective mechanism (explained later) and/or decoupled from the mouthpiece cover movement to keep the next blister pocket 3 in position 6 for puncturing. However, if the mouthpiece cover 15 is not fully opened and closed again or if the actuator 12 has not been closed after the mouthpiece cover 15 has been fully opened, then, the blister strip 2 may be moved backward during closure of the mouthpiece cover 15. This facilitates operation of the inhaler 1 and, in particular, prohibits that incomplete or unintended operation of the mouthpiece cover 15 results in an undesired movement or positioning of the blister strip 2 and eventually in an undesired opening of the next blister pocket 3.

Preferably, a lock (explained later) is provided so that the opened actuator 12 can be closed again only if the mouthpiece cover 15 has been fully opened and the actuator 12 has been closed. Thus, the piercing member 7 cannot be pushed against an area of the blister strip 2 without or beside a blister pocket 3.

When the mouthpiece cover 15 has been fully opened and the next blister pocket 3 has been moved in position 6, the actuator 12 can be pivoted back, i.e. closed, in order to pierce the already aligned, still closed blister pocket 3. Then, the inhaler 1 is ready for inhalation, i.e. activated as already described.

After inhalation, the inhaler 1 can be closed by pivoting back the mouthpiece cover 15 into its closed position.

In order to operate the conveyor 5 or its conveying wheel 14 by movement of the mouthpiece cover 15 as described above or in any other suitable manner, the mouthpiece cover 15 is coupled with the conveyor 5, in particular the conveying wheel 14, via the already mentioned freewheel and/or via a suitable transmission, a slipping clutch or any other suitable coupling or the like.

Preferably, the freewheel, transmission, coupling or the like is integrated into or located adjacent to the conveying wheel 14 or a respective axle.

Further details of the preferred embodiment of the inhaler 1 will be explained in the following with reference to the further figures.

The driving or coupling means for moving the actuator 12 from its closed position shown in FIG. 1 to its opened position shown in FIG. 3 preferably comprises at least one cam or protrusion 17 cooperating with an associated recess 18. Preferably, two protrusions 17 are provided at opposite sides at the mouthpiece cover 15 and/or adjacent to the cover axis 16 as schematically shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 representing different side views of the mouthpiece cover 15. In particular, the protrusions 17 are bolt-like or cylindrical.

Preferably, two recesses 18 are provided at or formed by the actuator 12 (as schematically shown in the perspective side view of the actuator 12 in FIG. 6) which cooperate with the associated protrusions 17.

Each protrusion 17 extends or engages into its associated recess 18 and can move along the recess 18 corresponding to the pivotal movement or position of the mouthpiece cover 17 relative to the actuator 12 (see also FIG. 20). Therefore, each recess 18 extends circumferentially around the cover axis 16 and/or may form a pivotal restriction or stop for the mouthpiece cover 15.

Each recess 18 preferably comprises a holding or clamping means, here one or two noses 19 as shown in FIG. 7 representing a partial engagement of FIG. 6. This holding or clamping means holds the associated protrusion 17 at a position within the recess 18 (here at one end of the recess 18) so that the actuator 12 is pivoted together with the mouthpiece cover 15 when the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened in the first phase. Only when the actuator 12 is held manually in its closed position or reaches its opened position, the protrusion 17 can overide the holding or clamping means, here the noses 19, and freely move along the further recess 18 so that the actuator 12 is decoupled from the further pivotal movement of the mouthpiece cover 15.

In order to clean the mouthpiece 8 it is possible for example to hold the actuator 12 manually down when opening the mouthpiece cover 15. In this case, the protrusions 17 directly overwrite the cam means (noses 19). Thus, it is possible to open the mouthpiece cover 15—at least up to the first angle—without movement of the actuator 12 and/or without onward movement of the blister strip 2.

The inhaler 1 preferably comprises a restriction means for restricting the opening movement of the actuator 12. In particular, the restricting means defines the opened position of the actuator 12. In the present embodiment, the restricting means is formed by one or two stops 20 formed e.g. at the inner side of actuator 12 (one stop 20 is shown in the perspective view according to FIG. 8). In particular, the stops 20 protrude from opposite sides towards the housing 12 a of the inhaler 1.

The housing 12 a comprises associated counterstops 21 (one counterstop 21 in shown in the perspective view of one half of the housing 12 a according to FIG. 9 and in FIG. 10 representing a partial enlargement of FIG. 9) so that the stop 20 abuts at its associated counterstop 21 when the actuator 12 reaches its opened position. Thus, the opened position is defined and any further opening of the actuator 12 is prevented by the abutment.

In the preferred embodiment, the counter stops 21 preferably extend in opposite directions and/or on opposite sides of the housing 12 a.

However, other constructional solutions are possible to realize the driving or coupling means and/or the restriction means described above. For example, the driving or coupling means can comprise or be formed by a spring (not shown) biasing the actuator 12 into its opened position and by a respective actuator lock to hold the actuator 12 in the closed position as desired.

When the actuator 12 reaches its opened position it is locked. The actuator lock preferably comprises at least one lock element, preferably two lock elements 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 11 to FIG. 14, for locking the actuator 12 with the housing 12 a or any other suitable component of the inhaler 1.

In particular, the locking works as follows. This explanation focusses on one lock element 22. If the additional lock element 23 is provided, the explanation preferably applies in a similar manner.

The lock element 22 blocks in the locked position any pivotation of the actuator 12 relative to the housing 12 a. The lock element 22 comprises a canted or polygonal protrusion or portion 25 (preferably square in cross section) cooperating with and extending through a corresponding (complementary) canted or polygonal opening 24 in the housing 12 a (compare FIG. 9) so that the lock element 22 cannot rotate around the axis of the actuator 12. However, the lock element 22 is axially moveable with regard to the axis of the actuator 12. It is biased outwards or towards a flap 29 of the actuator 12 so that the portion 25 can axially move into a respective opening 26 of the actuator 12 (compare FIG. 6 and FIG. 8) when the actuator 12 reaches its opened position. The opening 26 is also canted or polygonal as the opening 24 and/or in a complementary manner to the portion 25. Thus, the actuator 12 can be blocked by the portion 25 engaging into the opening 26 against rotation relative to the housing 12 a. This blocked state will also be named actuator locking.

The actuator locking prevents that the actuator 12 can be closed during movement of the blister strip 2. Thus, piercing can be prevented during movement or any undefined positioning of the blister strip 2.

The inhaler 1 comprises a spring 27 in order to bias the at least one lock element 22, preferably both lock elements 22 and 23, axially into engagement with the actuator 12 for actuator locking.

FIG. 15 representing a horizontal section of the inhaler 1 in the plane of the axis of the actuator 12, i.e. also in the plane of the cover axis 16 in the state when the mouthpiece cover 15 is closed, shows the spring 27. FIG. 16 shows a partial, enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the inhaler 1 in the plane of the axis of the actuator 12 and the cover axis 16, i.e. perpendicular to the section according to FIG. 15, but also in the state with closed mouthpiece cover 15.

The spring 27 is arranged between the lock elements 22 and 23 and biases the lock elements 22, 23 axially in opposite directions. The canted portions 25 of the lock elements 22 and 23 are guided within the associated openings 24 in the housing 12 a but do not engage into the openings 26 of the actuator 12 in the shown state.

An axle 28 extends through the lock elements 22 and 23 and through the preferably helical spring 27 and forms the cover axis 16. The axle 28 can rotate in or relative to the lock elements 22 and 23 which cannot rotate due to their outer from engaging with a stationary part of the inhaler 1 such as the housing 12 a. It is noted that the lock elements 22 and 23 are essentially mirror-symmetrical and/or have different through holes or openings for axially inserting the axle 28.

The axle 28 extends into axial flaps 29 of the mouthpiece cover 15 which axially cover the conveyor 5, the housing 12 a, the lock elements 22 and 23, the axle 28 and/or the conveying wheel 14. In particular, the conveying wheel 14 is hollow. The axle 28 is extending through the conveying wheel 14. The spring 27 is arranged within the conveying wheel 14 and/or encompassing the axle 28.

The axle 28 is preferably driven or rotated by the mouthpiece cover 15. Preferably, the axle 28 forms a pivotal bearing for the mouthpiece cover 15 or vice versa. In particular, the axle 28 forms the cover axis 16.

A coupling element 30 is arranged between the spring 27 and each lock element 22 and 23, respectively. The coupling elements 30 are axially moveable together with the lock elements 22 and 23 on the axle 28. However, the coupling elements 30 cannot rotate relative to the axle 28. The coupling elements 30 are rotationally ridgidly connected with the axle 28, in particular via radially engaging keys 31, ridges or the like as schematically shown in FIG. 17.

In particular, each coupling element 30 comprises an inner axial groove 32 (compare FIG. 18) into which the associated key 31, ridge or the like can radially engage in order to rotationally couple the coupling element 30 to the axle 28.

With closed mouthpiece cover 15 and/or with the coupling elements in the axially inner position, the conveying wheel 14 (shown in a perspective view in FIG. 19) is rotationally decoupled from the coupling element 30. Instead, the lock elements 22 and 23 axially engage the conveying wheel 14 in this state. In particular, axially opened notches 33 formed in an annular portion of the lock element 22 and 23, respectively, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 14 engage with the conveying wheel 14, in particular with radially extending ridges 34 shown in FIG. 19.

When the actuator 12 reaches its opened position and the actuator locking is reached, the following happens. The lock elements 22 and 23 and the coupling elements 30 move axially outwards due to spring 27. Thus, the rotational (axial) locking between the lock elements 22 and 23 and the conveying wheel 14 is unlocked.

Simultaneously, the axially shifted coupling elements 30 couple the conveying wheel 14 rotationally to the axle 28. This rotational coupling is achieved in the present embodiment by the cooperation of inner teeth 35 of the conveying wheel 14 (compare FIG. 19) with outer teeth 36 of the coupling element 20 (compare FIG. 18). In particular, the tooths 35/36 are arranged in different row circumferentially distributed and extending in axial direction, wherein each rows consists of multiple spaced teeth 35/36. Thus, the teeth 35 and 36 can rotationally couple and decouple the respective coupling element 30 with the conveying wheel 14 depending on the axial position of the coupling element 30 relative to the conveying wheel 14. However, other constructional solutions are possible as well.

In the state of actuator locking, the conveying wheel 14 is rotational rigidly coupled to the axle 28 as described above, i.e. rotation of the axle 28 drives the conveying wheel 14 and, thus, moves the blister strip 2 onwards.

As already mentioned, the mouthpiece cover 15 can be opened further up to the first angle without onward movement of the blister strip 2. This is preferred in order to allow a wide opening of the mouthpiece cover 15 so that the mouthpiece cover 15 does not disturb during inhalation. In the present embodiment, namely, a rotational movement of the mouthpiece cover 15 of about 90° is sufficient to move the blister strip 2 by one blister pocket 3 further to the next blister pocket 3. In order to achieve a fully opened position of the mouthpiece cover 15 that does not disturb a user or patient (not shown) of the inhaler 1, the first angle is preferably more than 20 degrees, in particular more than 30 degrees, preferably about 35 degrees, i.e. much greater than the angle of the actuator 12 in its opened position. This results in an angle much greater than 90° of the mouthpiece cover 15 in the completely opened position.

As already mentioned, a freewheel is preferably provided in order decouple the axle 28 when the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened up to the first angle. The freewheel is preferably formed by a radial wing 37 of the axle 28 (see FIG. 17) cooperating with a respective engagement portion 38 formed at the mouthpiece cover 15 (compare FIG. 4). The schematic section of the inhaler 1 in the region of the partially opened mouthpiece cover 15 represented by FIG. 20 explains the cooperation of the wing 37 with the engagement portion 38. In particular, the engagement portion 38 forms a key-hole-like recess or recessed segment so that the wing 37/axle 28 can freely rotate relative to the around cover axis 16 within a limited angle range which permits movement of the mouthpiece cover 15 from the completely closed position to the first angle without rotation of the axle 28. FIG. 20 shows the situation when the mouthpiece cover 15 has reached the first angle. The engagement portion 38 or a side wall thereof has just abutted at one side of the wing 37. During further opening of the mouthpiece cover 15 (rotation in anti-clockwise direction in the representation according to FIG. 20), the wing 37 and, thus, the axle 28 will be rotated together with the mouthpiece cover 15 (second phase of opening) until the fully opened position is reached. This rotation of the axle 28 during the second phase drives the conveying wheel 14 via the coupled coupling elements 30 and, consequently, moves the blister strip 2 forward by one blister pocket 3.

Other designs of the freewheel are possible as well. Alternatively or additionally, the freewheel can be integrated or arranged at any other position or between other components in the drive train between the mouthpiece cover 15 and the conveying wheel 14. Further, the freewheel could be integrated into the coupling, provided by the coupling elements 30 and the conveying wheel 14, or any other coupling or vice versa.

FIG. 20 further shows the protrusion 17 mouthpiece cover 15 which has already left its initial position at the left-hand side of recess 18 because the mouthpiece cover 15 has already been opened beyond the opened position of the actuator 12, namely up to the first angle.

When the mouthpiece cover 15 reaches its fully opened position the mouthpiece cover 15 is preferably held in the fully opened position by at least one cam 39 formed at the mouthpiece cover 15 (compare FIG. 4) engaging at least one nose 40 formed at the housing 12 a (compare FIG. 9). Thus, a holding effect is achieved. However, the holding effect is such that the engagement of the cams 39 with the noses 40 can be released or overcome by manually closing the mouthpiece cover 15.

When the mouthpiece cover 15 has been fully opened, the actuator locking is preferably released. In particular, the lock elements 22 and 23 are moved radially inwards just when the mouthpiece cover 15 reaches its fully opened position so that the actuator 12 can be manually closed to pierce the next blister pocket 3 which has been aligned by the onward movement of the blister strip 2 due to the opening of the mouthpiece cover 15. The axial inward movement of the lock elements 22 and 23 results also in a central alignment of the conveying wheel 14 and, thus, of the blister pocket 3 that is to be opened. Further, this results in rotational locking of the conveying wheel 14 by axial engagement of the lock elements 22 and 23. In addition, the axial inward movement of the coupling elements 30 caused by the axial inward movement of the lock elements 22 and 23 results in decoupling of the conveying wheel 14 form the axle 28.

The mouthpiece cover 15 comprises preferably means, such as at least one or more ramps 41 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 which cooperate with associated means, such as at least one or more ramps 42 on the lock elements 22 and 23 (compare FIGS. 11 to 14). The ramps 41 and 42 extend axially and are inclined in circumferential direction. The ramps 41 and 42 can interfere through respective openings 43 in the actuator 12 (compare FIG. 6 and FIG. 8) and openings 44 in the housing 12 a (compare FIG. 9) and are arranged and dimensioned such that the lock elements 22 and 23 are inwardly pushed just when the mouthpiece cover 15 reaches its fully opened position to unlock the actuator 12, to engage the conveying wheel 14 and to decouple the coupling elements 30 from the conveying wheel 14.

Then, the actuator 12 can be manually closed. This results in a rotation of the openings 26 in the actuator 12 so that the lock elements 22 and 23 can not be axially moved outwards again even if the mouthpiece cover 15 closed again releasing the engagement of the ramps 41 and 42.

Preferably, the inhaler 1 has a lock against incomplete opening of the mouthpiece cover 15 and/or against closure of the mouthpiece cover 15 before the actuator 12 has been manually closed. This lock is preferably formed by a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism can be formed only on one side or on both sides of the inhaler 1. In the present embodiment, the ratchet mechanism is formed by engagement of the ramp 41 in associated steps or depressions 45 before the ramp 41 interferes with its associated ramp 42 near the fully opened position of mouthpiece cover 15. The steps or depressions 45 are preferably formed on the associated lock element 22 and 23, respectively. However, other constructional solutions are possible as well.

In the present embodiment, the conveying mechanism or conveyor 5 preferably comprises the lock elements 22 and 23, the axle 28 and/or the coupling element 30 in addition to the conveying wheel 14 and/or other guiding elements (not shown).

The actuator 12 preferably comprises holes 46 as shown in FIG. 6 as inlets for air flowing into the inhaler 1.

Preferably, the terms “blister strip” and “blister pockets” have to be understood in a very broad sense to cover also other kinds of storage means with receptacles or even bulk storages for the formulation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 inhaler -   2 blister strip -   3 blister pocket -   3 a lid -   4 reservoir -   5 conveyor -   5 a onward movement -   6 opening and/or removal position -   7 piercing member -   8 mouthpiece -   9 air stream -   10 powder -   11 aerosol cloud -   12 actuator -   12 a housing -   13 receiving apparatus -   14 conveying wheel -   15 mouthpiece cover -   16 cover axis -   17 protrusion -   18 recess -   19 noses -   20 stop -   21 counterstop -   22 lock element -   23 lock element -   24 opening -   25 portion -   26 opening -   27 spring -   28 axle -   29 flap -   30 coupling element -   31 key -   32 groove -   33 notch -   34 ridge -   35 inner tooth -   36 outer tooth -   37 wing -   38 engagement portion -   39 cam -   40 nose -   41 ramp -   42 ramp -   43 opening -   44 opening -   45 depression -   46 hole 

1. In an inhaler (1) for delivery of an inhalation formulation from a band-shaped blister strip (2) with a plurality of blister pockets (3) containing the inhalation formulation in doses, comprising: a conveyor (5) for stepwise onward movement of the blister strip (2), a piercing member (7), an actuator (12) which is pivotally mounted to a housing (12 a) of the inhaler (1) or operable to cause the piercing member (7) to puncture a lid (3 a) of an aligned blister pocket (3), a mouthpiece (8), and a mouthpiece cover (15) pivotable around a cover axis (16) to open and close the mouthpiece (8), the inhaler (1) being designed such that by breathing in during inhalation—an air stream (9) of ambient air can be sucked or delivered in order to discharge the respective dose from an opened blister pocket (3) and deliver it with the ambient air as an aerosol cloud (11), the improvement which is characterized in that the mouthpiece cover (15) is coupled with the conveyor (5) to drive the conveying wheel (14) and to move the blister strip (2) onward, or that the axis of the actuator (12) or conveying wheel (14) extends coaxial or is identical to the cover axis (16).
 2. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouthpiece cover (15) is pivotally mounted to the housing (12 a).
 3. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouthpiece cover (15) covers axially an axle (28) or the axis of the actuator (12) or conveying wheel (14).
 4. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (12) and the mouthpiece cover (15) have the same opening direction.
 5. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouthpiece cover (15) is coupled with the conveying wheel (14) via a transmission, a freewheel, a slipping clutch or another coupling.
 6. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (12) supports the mouthpiece (8).
 7. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot range of the actuator (12) is smaller than the one of the mouthpiece cover (15) or is restricted to at most 20 degrees, in particular to about 10 degrees.
 8. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the blister strip (2) is conveyed only during a portion of the opening movement of the mouthpiece cover (15).
 9. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the blister strip (2) is conveyed only during movement of the mouthpiece cover (15) in one direction.
 10. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) is designed such that the actuator (12) is opened together with or by the mouthpiece cover (15).
 11. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) is designed such that when the mouthpiece cover (15) is opened completely or when the actuator (12) is closed, any movement of the blister strip (2) is set or fixed or any rotation of the conveying wheel (14) is blocked.
 12. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) is designed such that the opened actuator (12) can be closed again only if the mouthpiece cover (15) has been fully opened.
 13. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) is designed such that the mouthpiece cover (15) is blocked against closure after the blister strip (2) has been moved onward until the mouthpiece cover (15) has been fully opened or until the actuator (12) has been closed again.
 14. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) is designed such that the mouthpiece cover (15) can be opened more than the actuator (12) up to a first angle without movement of the blister strip (2).
 15. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (12) is lockable in its opened position, or until the blister strip (2) has been moved onward by one blister pocket (3).
 16. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) comprises a spring (27) biasing at least one lock element (22, 23) into a position locking the actuator (12) against closure.
 17. The inhaler according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one lock element (22, 23) engages into the actuator (12) when an outer contour of the lock element (22, 23) fits with or into a respective opening (26) of the actuator (12).
 18. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) is designed such that the conveying wheel (14) can be rotated or is unlocked only when the actuator (12) is in its opened position. 